NEW JERSEY COURT REFUSES TO HEAR DEFAMATION SUIT BASED ON ISLAMIC LAW

A New Jersey trial court dismissed a defamation case by a Saudi Arabian woman against her half sister because the suit was based upon the interpretation of religious cannons. Plaintiff sued alleging that the defendant defamed her in social media posts that she had sexual relations with several men under a marriage arrangement known under Islamic law as a “Misyar.” The court determined that this was a non-secular matter and a court must abstain from matters that require interpretation of religious cannons. The attorney for the plaintiff intends to appeal the decision stating that allegations of promiscuity are considered defamatory per se.